us against them. which means that instead of trying to solve our mutual problems, we concentrate on defeating those we designate as "them." which leads us to exaggerate our differences. as a substitute for thought. and to minimize our agreements as no consequence. take our subject today. hardly anyone believes that america has reached some post racial nirvana where racism has been competitor sized both from institutions and from the hearts of individuals. we know it's still there. and almost everyone would agree that what we do as individual minority members and what we encourage our children to do matters a great deal. so my humble, perhaps naive plea this morning is not that you change your minds about what you believe but that for the next few hours you accept that at least the theoretical possibility that those that disagree with you not on that account stupid or tarnle terrible people, that they might actually have a small point. i don't have much time to get this conversation started, so let me